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Support Growing for Officer in Ferguson Shooting

In the days since police in Ferguson, Mo., named Darren Wilson as the officer who shot and killed unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, a small, quiet counter-protest, taking place mostly online, has arisen far from the angry, noisy nightly protests roiling Ferguson.

Two Facebook groups, both supporting Wilson, have appeared. Between them, they had more than 36,500 "Likes" as of early Tuesday. Supporters also created a GoFundMe.com group aimed at raising $100,000 for Wilson's family. "We stand behind Officer Darren Wilson and his family during this trying time in their lives," a statement on the site said. One donor, who identified herself as Nancy Lawson, pledged $20 and wrote, "Thank you, officer Wilson, for risking your life so we can live in a safe world. I am praying for you."

The site's administrators told USA Today they ultimately disabled comments on the site in an attempt "to stop the negative comments." As of Tuesday, four days after police identified Wilson as the officer involved in the Aug. 9 shooting, about 500 donors had pledged nearly $20,500.

On Facebook, a commenter who identified himself as Mike Allgire said, "As a retired police officer, I would have shot him also." Allgire added, "The police are not out there to see who can wipe who, but to keep the peace. With a person the size of Mr. Brown, there is no doubt I would have taken the same action. Police officer's have an old saying; 'I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by six.' "

One Facebook site, "I Support Officer Wilson," posted a statement Tuesday that said: "The death of Michael Brown is a tragic event. We all must deal with this in our own personal way. However, throughout this trying time we must remember the men and women of law enforcement are neighbors, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. Law enforcement officers are a part of the very fabric of our communities we ask them to protect. In times like this, they, too, need to know that the community is behind the work they do for us and that we in the community appreciate all their countless hours of service."

Comments (13)

Displaying 1 - 13 of 13

Chilll @ 8/19/2014 4:34 PM

6'4" thug charging me with hands up like a boxer and head down like a bull, I would shoot him too! He's not trying to rush me to shake me hand and say, hello officer. That officer is 1/3 the size if that thug!!good shooting! Saved yourself a funeral.

Concerned Citizen @ 8/19/2014 7:44 PM

All the BROWN supporters must be brain dead zombies. Have they thought what would have happened in Michael Brown had a gun? He would have killed, the people in the place he robbed, and possibly killed Darren Wilson. But the Media and the POTUS sides with the criminal? That's a shocker! Since both worship Illegal Alien criminals! I can't wait to relish the day when those in the MSM helping spread the Race war, become victims of their own making!!They are asking for it! Will they blame the Tea Party then? For Black thugs hurting and killing others? What about a Potus, that makes judgments based on Color of a persons skin and not facts?

TheRookie @ 8/20/2014 1:22 AM

The damn Governor Jay Nixon has all but said there's going to be an indictment. That's way prematurely & just plain WRONG. Now Erik` With-Holder @ Dept. of Un-Justice is heading there. This poor damn Officer won't have a chance unless we all support him through social media.

Chad Stuart @ 8/20/2014 4:39 AM

I am supporting Officer Wilson during this time of need. We shall not judge because we were not there. I support him 100%. God Bless you Brother!!

Captain @ 8/20/2014 7:19 AM

Gov. Nixon is a spineless politician. He should support the chief, officer Wilson and all the officers in Ferguson instead of throwing them under the preverbal bus. We have a street thug, who was shot. this has nothing to do with race. Missouri wake up

Kevin Ranieri @ 8/20/2014 7:57 AM

I think the Governor is trying to save his ass figuring if he sides with the animals that are looting and everything is going to get him votes! A typical politician protecting his own ass without waiting on the facts!

Tom Ret @ 8/20/2014 8:56 AM

Lets hope the county prosecutor is cut from different cloth that the Governor.

Old boy @ 8/20/2014 9:04 AM

We support Officer Wilson! Keep your head up and stand strong Officer! Faith in the Lord, NOT the government politicos!

Rachael @ 8/20/2014 8:20 PM

racist commentary abundant.. I expected nothing less. Micheal Brown was not stopped for an alleged "robbery" (allegedly stealing cigars, only) and was a completely unrelated incident to his confrontation with Wilson. The release of this footage was irrelevant and an attack on Brown's character... nor did it justify killing Brown even if Wilson had been responding to it. I think that most essential to any discussion regarding Ferguson is the amount of times Brown was shot... the autopsy revealed he had been shot at least six times at point blank range with two entering his head. Although witness reports are conflicting and the only report supporting Wilson was Wilson's himself, even if Wilson had felt threatened or in danger I have a very hard time believing this warranted six shots into the body of an unarmed teenager.. particularly considering that Brown had SURRENDERED and Wilson had continued to shoot. Racism is still very alive, and many of these comments just proved that to me.

deanv13 @ 8/21/2014 10:06 AM

@Rachel...so you are sure the robbery had nothing to do with the shooting? Even though it is highly likely, in Brown's mind, this was the reason he was being stopped & not for just "J-walking"? Place yourself in a criminal's mind for a moment if you can. If you just committed a crime & were confronted by the police, would you not be in the "fight or flight" mindset almost immediately? One more question to you Rachel. How many shots do you think would be considered "justified" to stop a person the size of Brown who is in a full charge at you, and where would YOU shoot? (I hope you don't say the "legs" or "arms"). And before you answer, this person punched you in the face causing a fracture to your eye socket & the person charging you has already tried to take your weapon. I will agree with you about racism in this country. But until proven otherwise, we cannot asume Wilson shot Brown because of his race. I still believe in innocent until proven guilty, Rachel. Don't you?

Sarenda Davison @ 8/22/2014 4:11 AM

@Rachel...I dont think it has been confirmed yet if Brown was surrendering or charging Wilson, has it? Im sure that Mr Wilson did not know Brown was a teenager. I believe the video of the Robbery does show Mr Brown's attitude. Some have convicted Mr Wilson before a "Trial" or before the investigation was even complete. Lets wait for the results of either or both. I do not believe this was a "racial thing" at all. I feel sorry for the Mother and the Family and Friends of Mr Brown, I cant imagine their pain. I also feel sorry for the turmoil that Mr Wilson and his Family must be going through. I pray for them all.

Tom Ret @ 8/22/2014 3:09 PM

Rachael- If anyone on this forum is racist, it is you! You have assumed the officer is guilty and Brown innocent, not based on any known facts, but on your own biases because Brown is black and the officer white. You obviously, unlike many on this forum, have not been in a police shooting(s) and know little to nothing about stopping power of handgun rounds. Even if the officer didn't know Brown had just committed a strong armed robbery, Brown knew and logically would have thought the officer knew. He had been physical with the clerk on video for everyone to see just a few minutes prior to the contact. If the officer is injured, it obviously dispels your argument that Brown was not aggressive towards the officer and was shot for no reason while surrendering. You also suggest that Brown, because he was 18 and unarmed, was not a danger to the officer. I would remind you that being around 6'4" and 300 pounds he would have been a handful for any officer, even an experienced one.

Cash @ 8/25/2014 9:13 AM

Lord help us. There are way too many Rachael's in this world. They are the reason this country is taking a dump. Not the criminals.

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